View source for Judith Light

{{short description|American actress (born 1949)}}
{{confused|Judith Wright}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Judith Light
| image              = JudithLight2019.png
| caption            = Light in 2019
| birth_name         = Judith Ellen Light
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1949|2|9}}
| birth_place        = [[Trenton, New Jersey]], U.S.
| known_for          = {{hlist|''[[Who's the Boss?]]''|''[[One Life to Live]]''|''[[Other Desert Cities]]''|''[[The Assembled Parties]]''}}
| occupation         = Actress
| years_active       = 1969–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Robert Desiderio]]|1985|}}
| website            = {{URL|http://judithlight.com/}}
| education          = [[Doane Academy]]
| alma_mater         = [[Carnegie Mellon University]] ([[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]])
}}

'''Judith Ellen Light''' (born February 9, 1949)<ref name="biography.com" /> is an American actress. She made her professional stage debut in 1970, before making her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in the 1975 revival of ''[[A Doll's House]]''. Her breakthrough role was in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] daytime soap opera ''[[One Life to Live]]'' from 1977 to 1983, where she played the role of [[Karen Wolek]]; for this role, she won two consecutive [[Daytime Emmy Award]]s for [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] in 1980 and 1981. In 2024, Light won the [[75th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]] for ''[[Poker Face (TV series)|Poker Face]]''.

Light starred as Angela Bower in the long-running ABC sitcom ''[[Who's the Boss?]]'' from 1984 to 1992. Light played the recurring role of [[Elizabeth Donnelly]] in the [[NBC]] legal crime drama ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' (2002–2010) and also played [[Claire Meade]] in the ABC comedy-drama ''[[Ugly Betty]]'' (2006–2010), for which she was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] in 2007. From 2013 to 2014, she played the role of villainous [[List of Dallas (2012 TV series) characters|Judith Brown Ryland]] in the [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] drama series ''[[Dallas (2012 TV series)|Dallas]]''. In 2014, she began starring as Shelly Pfefferman in the critically acclaimed [[Amazon Studios]] dark comedy-drama series ''[[Transparent (TV series)|Transparent]]'', for which she received several [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]], Primetime Emmy, and [[Critics' Choice Television Award|Critics' Choice]] Award nominations. She again received Primetime Emmy and Critics' Choice Award nominations for playing [[Marilyn Miglin]] in ''[[The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story]]'' in 2018. In 2019, she was awarded a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].

Light received her first nomination for a [[Tony Award]] in 2011, for her performance in the original Broadway play ''[[Lombardi (play)|Lombardi]]''. In 2012 and 2013, she won two consecutive Tony Awards for [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play|Best Featured Actress in a Play]], for her performances in ''[[Other Desert Cities]]'' and ''[[The Assembled Parties]]''.

==Early life==
Light was born to a [[American Jews|Jewish]] family<ref>{{cite news|last=Bloom|first=Nate|title=Jewish Stars 6/10 |newspaper=[[Cleveland Jewish News]]|date=June 10, 2011|url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/jewish-stars/article_0f141cc3-3a35-5047-9097-69232b63262a.html|access-date=January 5, 2018}}</ref> in [[Trenton, New Jersey]].<ref name="biography.com" /> She is the daughter of Pearl Sue (née Hollander), a model, and Sidney Licht, an [[accountant]]. Light graduated from high school in 1966 at St. Mary's Hall–[[Doane Academy]] in [[Burlington, New Jersey]].
She graduated from [[Carnegie Mellon University]] with a degree in drama.<ref name="biography.com"/> She recalled graduating with a class of 15 actors who were there all four years. She said "it was a really rigorous program and I thank God for it because it was an amazing training program."<ref name="bigthink">{{cite web |title=Big Think Interview With Judith Light |url=http://bigthink.com/ideas/20624|date=May 10, 2010|work=BigThink.com|access-date=2010-08-10}}</ref> She made her professional debut on stage in ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' at the ''California Shakespeare Festival'' in 1970.

==Career==

===Early work and breakthrough===
Light made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in ''[[A Doll's House]]'' in 1975.<ref name="biography.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/judith-light-222414|title=Judith Light|website=[[Biography.com]]|publisher=[[A&E Networks]]|access-date=September 8, 2014|quote=Judith Ellen Licht was born on February 9, 1949, in Trenton, New Jersey. Now known as Judith Light...|archive-date=July 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703220944/https://www.biography.com/people/judith-light-222414|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also starred in the 1976 Broadway play ''[[Herzl (play)|Herzl]]''. Light also acted for such theatre companies as the [[Milwaukee Repertory Theater]] and the [[Seattle Repertory Theatre]].<ref name=tvg>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/judith-light/bio/3000029728/|title=Judith Light|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref> In the late 1970s, Light went through a real crisis after a period of not landing any parts.<ref name="bigthink" /> Broke, she almost quit acting, because she felt that she was not contributing to the theater.<ref name="bigthink" />
[[File:Judith Light crop.jpg|thumb|Light at the Governor's Ball following the 1989 Annual Emmy Awards|left|upright]]
In 1977, her agent phoned Light to have her audition for an [[understudy]] role in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[soap opera]] ''[[One Life to Live]]''. Not wanting to be attached to a soap opera or a sitcom she initially rejected the idea, until she was told her daily salary would be $350.<ref name="bigthink" /> At the audition she realized that "the format reaches a lot of people". She could "make a difference" and "make money" at the same time.<ref name="bigthink" /> Instead of landing an understudy role, she was recast in the role of [[Karen Wolek]], a role that had previously been portrayed by actresses Kathryn Breech and [[Julia Duffy]]. This role was quite lucrative for Light and spawned one of the show's most-remembered storylines; Light's character became an alcoholic prostitute after she became bored with her life as a housewife. On trial, Karen saved her friend [[Victoria Lord|Viki Lord Riley]] ([[Erika Slezak]]) from being convicted of killing Karen's pimp, [[Marco Dane]] ([[Gerald Anthony]]) by admitting to the entire town, including her faithful husband, [[Larry Wolek|Dr Larry Wolek]] ([[Michael Storm]]), that she had been a prostitute.

Light's portrayal of Karen brought the show critical acclaim and is credited with garnering ''One Life to Live'' [[List of US daytime soap opera ratings#1970s|ratings successes]] from the late 1970s into the early 1980s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Inside the Soaps |last=Denis |first=Paul |year=1985 |publisher=[[Citadel Press]] |location=[[New York City]] |isbn=0-8065-0940-6 |page=103 }}</ref><ref name="Culture">{{cite book |last1=Browne |first1=Ray Broadus |last2=Browne |first2=Pat |year=2001 |title=The Guide to United States Popular Culture |location=[[Madison, Wisconsin]] |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]] |isbn=9780879728212 |page=589 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U3rJxPYT32MC&pg=PA589 |access-date=26 December 2013}}</ref> Light's dramatic, confessional courtroom performance of a housewife-turned-prostitute on the [[witness box|witness stand]] is regarded as one of the most memorable moments in television by ''[[TV Guide]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judithlight.com/pdf/Judith-Highlights.pdf|title=Professional Highlights|publisher=Judith Light official website|access-date=28 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415094542/http://www.judithlight.com/pdf/Judith-Highlights.pdf|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref> In 1980, this won Light her first [[Daytime Emmy Award]] for [[Daytime Emmy Awards|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]];<ref name="1980 Win">{{cite news|title='Guiding Light' Wins Top Daytime Emmy|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MPVdAAAAIBAJ&dq=daytime%20emmy&pg=1476%2C558877|access-date=May 18, 2013|newspaper=[[Observer–Reporter]]|date=June 5, 1980|agency=Associated Press|page=8|location=[[Washington County, Pennsylvania]]}}</ref> the scene in which she confessed her guilt in court is held in such high esteem that it is still used in acting classes.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} Light recalled: "I was scared before those courtroom scenes. I was afraid to put myself out that much. With the agony of pulling it out piece by piece and having the prosecutor stick the knife in her gut, I couldn't help but let everything spew out of her."<ref>"Judith portrays ex-hooker sensitively" by Steven H. Scheuer, ''[[Boca Raton News]]'', September 28, 1979. p. 10</ref> Light won another Daytime Emmy Award in the role in 1981.<ref name="1981 Win">{{cite news|title='General Hospital' tops Emmy list|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Oe1eAAAAIBAJ&dq=daytime%20emmy&pg=1393%2C3636240|access-date=May 18, 2013|newspaper=[[St. Joseph Gazette]]|date=May 20, 1981|agency=Associated Press|page=104|location=[[St. Joseph, Missouri]]}}</ref>

She appeared in an episode of ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'' in its first season, called "Dog Day Hospital", in which she played a housewife who became pregnant for the ninth time even though her husband claimed he had had a vasectomy. In an effort to punish the doctor who botched the job she took an operating room hostage though it was later revealed that her husband had not had the procedure.

=== Continued success and film expansion ===
After her success on daytime television, Light landed the leading role of assertive advertising executive Angela Bower on the ABC sitcom ''[[Who's the Boss?]]''.<ref name="biography.com" /> Co-starring [[Tony Danza]], who played her housekeeper (and eventual boyfriend), the show ran for eight seasons from 1984 to 1992. The series was successful in the ratings, consistently ranked in the top ten in the final primetime ratings between the years of 1985 and 1989, and has since continued in syndication. ''TV Guide'' ranked ''Who's the Boss?'' as the 109th best sitcom of all time.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}} Along with her work in ''Who's the Boss?,'' she starred in several television films, including ''Stamp of a Killer'' (1987) alongside [[Jimmy Smits]]; and the critically acclaimed biographical drama ''[[The Ryan White Story]]'' (1989), in which she played the mother of [[HIV/AIDS]] positive teenager [[Ryan White]]. [[File:Judith Light headshot.jpg|thumb|Light in 2007|upright]]
Light appeared in ''[[Wife, Mother, Murderer]]'' (1991), in which she played [[Audrey Marie Hilley]]. After ''Who's the Boss?,'' Light starred in another ABC sitcom, ''[[Phenom (TV series)|Phenom]]'', which ran for one season, 1993–94, before being canceled. In 1998 she starred in another short-lived sitcom, ''[[The Simple Life (1998 TV series)|The Simple Life]]'' on [[CBS]].<ref name="biography.com" /> She spent most of the 1990s starring in made-for-TV and feature films including ''[[Men Don't Tell]]'' and 1997's ''Too Close to Home'', which co-starred [[Ricky Schroder]]. In 1999, Light returned to the stage in the off-Broadway production of [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning play ''[[Wit (play)|Wit]]''. She earned strong reviews for her portrayal of Vivian Bearing, a university professor battling ovarian cancer, and reprised the role for the national tour.<ref name="biography.com" /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.theatermirror.com/wwtap.htm | title=It's 'Wit,' Not Judith, That's Light | publisher=Theater Mirror | date=1999 | access-date=8 September 2014 | author=Alan W. Petrucelli | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120312/http://www.theatermirror.com/wwtap.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> Light shaved her head for the role in the play.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/1999/08/22/style-substance-judith-light/|title=Style & Substance: Judith Light|work=New York Post|date=August 22, 1999|access-date=8 September 2014|author=Farrah Weinstein}}</ref>

Light returned to television with the recurring role of [[Elizabeth Donnelly|Judge Elizabeth Donnelly]] in the [[NBC]] legal crime drama ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 25, 2002|title=Judith Light|url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/people-news/judith-light-1117861395/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908140156if_/https://variety.com/2002/scene/people-news/judith-light-1117861395/|archive-date=8 September 2014|access-date=8 September 2014|work=Variety}}</ref> She appeared in 25 episodes of the series from 2002 to 2010. In 2004 she starred in another short-lived CBS sitcom, ''[[The Stones (TV series)|The Stones]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2004/tv/reviews/the-stones-4-1200534549/ | title=Review: ''The Stones''|work=Variety|date=March 11, 2004 | access-date=8 September 2014 | author=Brian Lowry}}</ref> In 2006, Light joined the cast of the ABC comedy-drama series ''[[Ugly Betty]]'' as [[Claire Meade]], the mother of [[Alexis Meade|Alexis]] and [[Daniel Meade|Daniel]]. She was a recurring guest-star during the first season and was promoted to series regular as of the second. Light appeared in the show until the series finale in 2010. She was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]] in 2007, and for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series]] in 2008, for her performance in show.<ref name="tvg" />

Light appeared in a number of films in the 2000s. She co-starred opposite [[Chris Messina]] and [[Jennifer Westfeldt]] in the 2006 romantic comedy film ''[[Ira & Abby]]''. In 2007, Light starred as a radical Christian woman in the independent film ''[[Save Me (2007 film)|Save Me]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10007923-save_me/ | title=Save Me | website=Rotten Tomatoes | access-date=8 September 2014}}</ref> Light's character, Gayle, runs a Christian ministry known as Genesis House, which works to help gay men recover from their 'affliction.' She is challenged by the arrival of Mark, an ill gay man who reminds Gayle of her dead, homosexual son, and the movie chronicles the challenges of the two as they learn to accept each other as they are.

=== Acclaim in theater and return to television ===
The New York Times said in 1999 of Light's lead performance in the Broadway play Wit, "It is the sort of transformational work that would hint at other future successes, with Shakespeare, maybe, if a full-time career in the theater were truly an option these days. In any event, it gives rise to a wish. Ms. Light, don't touch that dial again, at least not for a while."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marks |first=Peter |date=September 10, 1999 |title=New Lead In 'Wit' Transcends A TV Past |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/10/movies/theater-review-new-lead-in-wit-transcends-a-tv-past.html |access-date=March 20, 2023}}</ref> Nevertheless, it would be another decade before Light returned to a major theatrical role on Broadway. From 2010 to 2011, Light appeared on Broadway as witty alcoholic Marie Lombardi in the play ''[[Lombardi (play)|Lombardi]]'', for which she received a nomination for the [[Tony Award]], for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/2011-Tony-Nominations-Announced-THE-BOOK-OF-MORMON-Leads-With-14-20110503 |title=2011 Tony Nominations Announced! THE BOOK OF MORMON Leads With 14! |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |date=2011-05-03 |access-date=2011-12-29}}</ref> Another role on Broadway followed, as Silda Grauman in ''[[Other Desert Cities]]'' from 2011 to 2012, which garnered Light her first Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Play and the 2012 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.<ref>Jones, Kenneth.
[https://archive.today/20121210193815/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/166897-Once-Clybourne-Park-Porgy-and-Bess-Audra-McDonald-Salesman-Win-Tony-Awards "'Once', 'Clybourne Park', 'Porgy and Bess', Audra McDonald, 'Salesman' Win Tony Awards"] Playbill.com, June 10, 2012</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news-features/the-57th-annual-drama-desk-awards |title=The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards |publisher=NewYorkTheaterGuide.com |date=2012-06-03 |access-date=2022-10-07}}</ref> Light also starred in two television pilots, ABC's sitcom ''Other People's Kids'' and [[USA Network]]'s drama ''Eden'', both in 2011 and neither of which were [[Green-light|green-lit]] to continue.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Nellie Andreeva|date=March 8, 2011|title=ABC Pilot Castings: Natalie Dormer To Star In 'Poe', Judith Light Joins 'Kids'|url=https://deadline.com/2011/03/natalie-dormer-to-star-in-abcs-poe-112312/|magazine=Deadline|access-date=8 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Stuart Levine|date=March 11, 2011|title=USA's ''Eden'' finds its Light|url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/usa-s-eden-finds-its-light-1118033801/|access-date=8 September 2014|work=Variety}}</ref>

[[File:Judith Light 2011.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Judith Light accepting her 2012 Drama Desk Award at [[The Town Hall (New York City)|The Town Hall]] in New York City]]Light appeared on Broadway as Faye in the 2013 play, ''[[The Assembled Parties]]'', and won her second Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Play for her performance.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/177440-Nominations-Announced-for-67th-Annual-Tony-Awards-Kinky-Boots-Earns-13-Nominations "Nominations Announced for 67th Annual Tony Awards; 'Kinky Boots' Earns 13 Nominations"]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021194132/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/177440-Nominations-Announced-for-67th-Annual-Tony-Awards-Kinky-Boots-Earns-13-Nominations |date=2013-10-21 }} playbill.com, April 30, 2013</ref> In the same year, she joined the cast of [[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]]'s continuation of the television series ''[[Dallas (2012 TV series)|Dallas]]'', in the role of [[Judith Brown Ryland]], villainous mother of [[Harris Ryland]] (despite being only three years older than [[Mitch Pileggi]] who plays her TV son).<ref>[https://www.tvguide.com/News/Judith-Light-Dallas-1054357.aspx?rss=breakingnews&partnerid=imdb&profileid=01 "Judith Light Heads to Dallas"] tvguide.com</ref><ref>[http://www.tvfanatic.com/2012/12/dallas-spoilers-debuts-deceptions-and-deaths/ "Dallas Spoilers: Debuts, Deceptions and Deaths"] tvfanatic.com</ref> She received positive reviews for her recurring role in ''Dallas'', with ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' naming her the "scene-stealer" of the series.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/03/04/dallas-judith-light/ | title=PopWatch PSA: You really need to watch Judith Light snort cocaine on 'Dallas' | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=March 4, 2014 | access-date=8 September 2014 | author=Mandi Bierly}}</ref>

In 2014, she was cast opposite [[Jeffrey Tambor]] in the critically acclaimed [[Amazon Studios]] dark comedy-drama series, ''[[Transparent (TV series)|Transparent]]'' created by [[Jill Soloway]]. She plays Shelly Pfefferman, ex-wife of the transgender character played by Tambor.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-whitney/transparent-pilot-best-new-pilot_b_4747263.html | title='Transparent' Could Be 2014's Groundbreaking Show | work=Huffington Post | date=February 7, 2014 | access-date=8 September 2014 | author=Erin Whitney}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://uproxx.com/tv/2014/02/5-reasons-transparent-best-new-pilots-amazon-instant/ | title=5 Reasons Why 'Transparent' Is The Best Of The New Pilots On Amazon Instant | publisher=UPROXX | date=February 14, 2014 | access-date=8 September 2014 | author=Dustin Rowles}}</ref> The pilot episode debuted on February 6, 2014, and later episodes premiered on September 26, 2014.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/08/27/transparent-amazon-trailer/ | title=Jeffrey Tambor transitions in emotional 'Transparent' trailer | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=August 27, 2014 | access-date=8 September 2014 | author=Ariana Bacle}}</ref> Light received [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film]] nominations for her performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/critics-choice-television-awards-nominations-2015-list-1201421320|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150506200406/http://deadline.com/2015/05/critics-choice-television-awards-nominations-2015-list-1201421320|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 6, 2015|title=Critics' Choice Television Awards Nominations 2015|author=Erik Pedersen|work=Deadline|date=6 May 2015|access-date=6 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Variety Staff |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/awards/golden-globe-nominations-2016-nominees-full-list-1201658166/ |title=2016 Golden Globe Nominations: Full List of Nominees |magazine=Variety |date=2015-12-10 |access-date=2017-05-24}}</ref>

Light appeared opposite [[Patricia Clarkson]] in the 2014 [[Romantic comedy|rom-com]], ''[[Last Weekend (2014 film)|Last Weekend]]'', and as the mother of [[Melanie Lynskey]]'s character in a comedy-drama film, ''[[We'll Never Have Paris]]'', the same year.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dennis Harvey|date=June 20, 2014|title=Film Review: ''Last Weekend''|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-last-weekend-1201181808/|access-date=8 September 2014|work=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Justin Chang|date=March 13, 2014|title=SXSW Film Review: ''We'll Never Have Paris''|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/sxsw-film-review-well-never-have-paris-1201131885/|access-date=8 September 2014|work=Variety}}</ref> She returned to Broadway in 2015 as [[Madame Raquin]] in [[Helen Edmundson]]'s adaptation of ''[[Thérèse Raquin]]'', starring opposite [[Keira Knightley]] and [[Matt Ryan (actor)|Matt Ryan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/legit/news/matt-ryan-judith-light-broadway-therese-raquin-1201515825/|title=Matt Ryan, Judith Light Join Broadway's ''Therese Raquin''|author=Gordon Cox|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=10 June 2015|access-date=13 June 2015}}</ref> In 2017, Light was featured in the [[American Theatre Wing]]'s [[Working in the Theatre (series)|Working in the Theatre]] series on solo performance.<ref>IMDB, [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7293684/?ref_=ttep_ep7 "Working in the Theatre: Solo Performance], August 24th, 2017.</ref>

Light received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Marilyn Miglin in 2018's ''[[The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story]],'' a [[miniseries|mini-series]] on [[FX (TV channel)|FX]], culminating in a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/american-crime-story-marilyn-miglin-perfume/|title='American Crime Story': Yes, Marilyn Miglin Still Sells Perfume|date=31 January 2018|access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/455bc5c6d0f745d18374a2cda193bd4a/Partial-list-of-nominees-for-annual-Primetime-Emmy-Awards|title=Partial list of nominees for annual Primetime Emmy Awards|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=12 July 2018|access-date=12 July 2018|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407200602/https://apnews.com/455bc5c6d0f745d18374a2cda193bd4a/Partial-list-of-nominees-for-annual-Primetime-Emmy-Awards|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2019, Light guest-starred in the Netflix series, [[The Politician (TV series)|''The Politician'']].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/politician-trailer-judith-light-bette-midler-emmys-teaser-1242147 |title='The Politician' Debuts First Look at Judith Light and Bette Midler During Emmys |author=Strause, Jackie |date=September 22, 2019 |website=[[HollywoodReporter.com]] |access-date=December 18, 2019 }}</ref> Together with [[Bette Midler]], she joined the main cast of the series for the second season, which premiered in June 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/the-politician-season-2-trailer-netflix-2020-watch.html|title=The Politician Season 2 Trailer: Bette Midler Is Here Now|website=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|first=Devon|last=Ivie|date=June 15, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref> She received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] on September 12, 2019.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Judith Light - Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony |medium=Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYlU-CNv2xo | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/wYlU-CNv2xo| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=September 12, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2021, Light played Rosa Stevens in the biographical musical drama film ''[[Tick, Tick... Boom! (film)|Tick, Tick... Boom!]]'' directed by [[Lin-Manuel Miranda]]. She later starred in the comedy-thriller ''[[The Menu (2022 film)|The Menu]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/judith-light-the-menu-searchlight-anya-taylor-joy-1235052047/|title=Judith Light Joins Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes in Searchlight's 'The Menu' (EXCLUSIVE)|first1=Matt|last1=Donnelly|date=August 30, 2021}}</ref> She also was cast in the comedy-drama ''[[Down Low (film)|Down Low]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/zachary-quinto-lukas-gage-simon-rex-judith-light-down-low-cast-1234860053/|title=Zachary Quinto, Lukas Gage, Simon Rex, Judith Light & Audra McDonald Lead FilmNation's 'Down Low'|first1=Anthony|last1=D'Alessandro|date=October 21, 2021}}</ref> and comedy-drama ''[[The Young Wife (film)|The Young Wife]]'' starring [[Kiersey Clemons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/flash-kiersey-clemons-young-wife-leon-briedges-tayarisha-poe-filmnation-1234968837/|title='The Flash's Kiersey Clemons Leads Cast In 'The Young Wife' For FilmNation & Archer Gray|first1=Andreas|last1=Wiseman|date=March 2, 2022}}</ref> On television, Light played [[Courteney Cox]]'s mother in the Starz horror comedy series ''[[Shining Vale]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/shining-vale-judith-light-starz-horror-comedy-1234811864/|title='Shining Vale': Judith Light Joins Starz's Horror Comedy Series|first1=Denise|last1=Petski|date=August 10, 2021}}</ref> and [[Blanche Knopf]] in the [[HBO Max]] series ''[[Julia (2022 TV series)|Julia]]'', both having premiered in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/judith-light-hbo-max-star-julia-child-drama-1234782563/|title=Judith Light Joins HBO Max's 'Julia', Will Star Alongside Sarah Lancashire & David Hyde Pierce In Julia Child Drama|first1=Peter|last1=White|date=June 28, 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Light has been married to television actor [[Robert Desiderio]] since 1985.<ref>{{cite book|author=Gerry Waggett|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FxIAmjBPZCQC&q=Robert+Desiderio+judith+light&pg=PA145|title=The One Life to Live 40th Anniversary Trivia Book: A Fun, Fact-Filled, Everything-You-Want-to-Know-Guide to Your Favorite Soap!|publisher=Hyperion|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4013-2309-7|page=146}}</ref> In 2010, the couple became bicoastal: she lives primarily in New York City, and he resides primarily in Southern California. She has a home in [[Beverly Hills, California]] and a home in Aspen, Colorado. She is Jewish and considers herself religious, without being attached to institutional religion.<ref>{{cite news|date=November 11, 2011|title=Judith Light on Faith and Religious Institutions|work=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/judith-light-faith-religious-institutions-14933325|access-date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> She has practiced [[Kundalini yoga]] for 20 years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Gary|date=September 19, 2008|title=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-sep-19-et-light19-story.html}}</ref>

== Activism ==
After being inspired by the community, Light began advocating for people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s. She was one of the first celebrities to advocate against the social stigma encountered by those with AIDS.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pridesource.com/article/74516-2/|title=This Light of Ours: Judith Light Reflects On LGBT Advocacy & How the Gay Community Taught Her To Be Courageous|last=Azzopardi|first=Chris|date=2015-12-10|work=Pride Source|access-date=2018-06-29|language=en-US}}</ref> She has served on the boards of the [[Matthew Shepard Foundation]] and the [[Point Foundation (LGBT)|Point Foundation]], a support organization for students discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jwa.org/people/light-judith|title=Judith Light | work=Jewish Women's Archive | first=James S. | last= Fell|access-date= August 31, 2018}}</ref>

Through her role in [[Transparent (TV series)|''Transparent'']] as the ex-wife of a transgender person, Light raises these issues to a broad audience. She reported "It's something that we really haven't talked about before in pop culture, we haven't talked about transgender issues, we haven't talked about mature people's sexuality."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/judith-light-66-spent-years-prominent-lgbt-activist-article-1.2455841|title='Transparent' star Judith Light, 66, spent years helping to break new ground as LGBT activist|last=Kaplan|first=Don|date=2015-12-04|work=Daily News|access-date=2018-06-29|location=New York|language=en-US}}</ref>

In an interview with the magazine [[Out (magazine)|''Out'']], Light stated:<blockquote>“It was the LGBTQ community that inspired me to be the kind of person I wanted to be. I wanted to be authentic and courageous, and for so long I wasn't. When I began doing a lot of advocacy work in the early '80s for HIV and AIDS, I saw the community and the way the community was operating against all odds, against a world and a culture and country that gave them nothing and denigrated them. ... I looked at this community and said, 'This is breathtaking. This is the kind of world and people I want to be around. These are the kind of people I want to be working with."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.out.com/popnography/2015/12/10/judith-light-i-wasnt-courageous-until-i-met-gay-community|title=Judith Light: 'I Wasn't Courageous Until I Met the Gay Community'|date=2015-12-10|work=Out|access-date=2018-06-29|language=en}}</ref></blockquote>In 2018, Light discussed the similarities between the beginnings of the [[LGBT movements|LGBT rights movement]] and the [[Me Too movement]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/06/18/judith-light/|title=Judith Light draws parallels between gay rights movement and #MeToo|last=Cooper|first=Mariah|date=2018-06-18|work=Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights|access-date=2018-06-29|language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition to LGBT and AIDS activism, she has spoken publicly to encourage [[vaccination]] against the flu as a way to protect vulnerable populations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-judith-light-20171014-htmlstory.html#|title=Here's why you're about to see actress Judith Light everywhere, talking about flu shots | work=The Los Angeles Times | first=James S. | last= Fell| date=October 14, 2017}}</ref>

==Filmography==

=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Rush It]]''
| Catherine's Friend
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1996
| ''[[Paul Monette|Paul Monette: The Brink of Summer's End]]''
| Herself
|
|-
| ''[[A Step Toward Tomorrow]]''
| Anna Lerner
|
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Joseph: King of Dreams]]''
| [[Potiphar's wife|Zuleika]]
| Voice<ref name="btva2">{{cite web |title=Judith Light (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Judith-Light/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Ira & Abby]]''
| Arlene Black
|
|-
| 2006
| ''[[A Broken Sole]]''
| Hilary
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Save Me (film)|Save Me]]''
| Gayle
| Also producer 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| ''[[Rhymes with Banana]]''
| Herself
|
|-
| ''[[Scrooge & Marley (2012 film)|Scrooge & Marley]]''
| The Narrator
|
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Last Weekend (2014 film)|Last Weekend]]''
| Veronika Goss
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| ''[[We'll Never Have Paris]]''
| Jean
|
|-
| ''[[Digging for Fire]]''
| Grandma
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| ''[[Ms. White Light]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/judith-light-roberta-colindrez-ms-white-light-1202596376/|title=Judith Light, Roberta Colindrez to Star in Drama 'Ms. White Light' (EXCLUSIVE)|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=23 October 2017|access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref>
| Val
|
|-
| ''[[Hot Air (film)|Hot Air]]''
| Judith Montefiore-Salters
|
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Before You Know It (2019 film)|Before You Know It]]''
| Sherrell Ghearhardt
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| ''[[The Same Storm]]''
| Shirlee Salt
|
|-
| ''[[Tick, Tick... Boom! (film)|Tick, Tick... Boom!]]''
| Rosa Stevens
|
|-
| 2022
| ''[[The Menu (2022 film)|The Menu]]''
| Anne Liebbrandt
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2023
| ''[[Down Low (film)|Down Low]]''
| Sandy
|
|-
| ''[[The Young Wife (film)|The Young Wife]]''
| Cookie
| 
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Out of My Mind (film)|Out of My Mind]]''
| Mrs. V.
|
|}

=== Television films ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 1983
| ''Intimate Agony''
| Marsha
| 
|-
| 1987
| ''Stamp of a Killer''
| Cathy Proctor
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1989
| ''[[The Ryan White Story]]''
| Jeanne White
| 
|-
| ''My Boyfriend's Back''
| Vickie Vine
| 
|-
| 1990
| ''In Defense of a Married Man''
| Laura Simmons
| 
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Wife, Mother, Murderer]]''
| [[Audrey Marie Hilley|Marie Hilley/Robbi/Teri]]
| 
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Men Don't Tell]]''
| Laura MacAffrey
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1994
| ''Betrayal of Trust''
| Barbara Noël
|
|-
| ''Against Their Will: Women in Prison''
| Alice Needham
| 
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Lady Killer (1995 film)|Lady Killer]]''
| Janice Mitchell
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1996
| ''A Strange Affair ''
| Lisa McKeever
|Also co-executive producer
|-
| ''Murder at My Door''
| Irene McNair
|
|-
| 1997
| ''Too Close to Home''
| Diana Donahue
| 
|-
| 2019 
| ''[[Nellie Bly|Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story]]''
| Matron Grady
| 
|}

=== Television series ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Kojak]]''
| Laetitia Pomerantz
| Episode: "Monkey on a String"
|-
| 1977–83
| ''[[One Life to Live]]''
| [[Karen Wolek]]
| Lead role on daily soap opera
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1983
| ''[[St. Elsewhere]]''
| Barbara Lonnicker
| Episode: "Dog Day Hospital"
|-
| ''[[Family Ties]]''
| Stacey Hughes
| Episode: "Not an Affair to Remember"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1984
| ''[[The Mississippi (TV series)|The Mississippi]]''
| {{n/a}}
| Episode: "Home Again"
|-
| ''[[Remington Steele]]''
| Clarissa Custer
| Episode: "Dreams of Steele"
|-
| ''You Are the Jury''
| Elizabeth Harding
| Episode: "The Case of the People of Florida vs. Joseph Landrum"
|-
| 1984–92
| ''[[Who's the Boss?]]''
| Angela Bower
| 196 episodes
|-
| 1986
| ''Charmed Lives''
| Angela Bower
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 1993–94
| ''[[Phenom (TV series)|Phenom]]''
| Dianne Doolan
| 22 episodes
|-
| 1996–97
| ''[[Duckman]]''
| Ursula Bacon "Honey" Chicken
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Cow and Chicken]]''
| Nurse
| Voice, episode: "Space Cow/The Legend of Sailcat"<ref name="btva2" />
|-
| 1998
| ''[[The Simple Life (1998 TV series)|The Simple Life]]''
| Sara Campbell
| 7 episodes
|-
| 2001
| ''Born In Brooklyn''
| Catherine
| ABC pilot
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Spin City]]''
| Christine
| Episode: "O Mother, Where Art Thou?"
|-
| 2002–10
| ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''
| [[Elizabeth Donnelly]]
| 25 episodes
|-
| 2004
| ''[[The Stones (TV series)|The Stones]]''
| Barbara Stone
| 9 episodes
|-
| 2005
| ''Sold''
| Nancy
| ABC pilot
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| ''[[Family Guy]]''
| Herself
| Voice, episode: "[[The Griffin Family History]]"
|-
| ''[[Twenty Good Years]]''
| Gina
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2006–10
| ''[[Ugly Betty]]''
| [[Claire Meade]]
| 55 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2011
| ''[[Nurse Jackie]]''
| Maureen Cooper
| Episode: "Rat Falls"
|-
| ''Other People's Kids''
| Laura
| ABC pilot
|-
| ''Eden''
| Olivia Sparks
| USA pilot
|-
| 2012–15
| ''[[The Exes]]''
| Marjorie
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2013–14
| ''[[Dallas (2012 TV series)|Dallas]]''
| [[List of Dallas (2012 TV series) characters|Judith Brown Ryland]]
| 18 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2014
| ''[[Raising Hope]]''
| Louise
| Episode: "Dinner with Tropes"
|-
| ''[[Submissions Only]]''
| Sharon Duvall
| Episode: "Reason to Stay"
|-
| ''The Winklers''
| Tita Winkler
| ABC pilot
|-
| 2014–19
| ''[[Transparent (TV series)|Transparent]]''
| Shelly Pfefferman
| 32 episodes 
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2017
| ''[[Doubt (American TV series)|Doubt]]''
| Carolyn Rice
| 8 episodes
|-
| ''[[I'm Sorry (TV series)|I'm Sorry]]''
| Judy
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| ''[[Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero]]''
| Mrs. Wright
| Voice, episode: "My Mischievous Son"<ref name="btva2" />
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| ''[[The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story]]''
| [[Marilyn Miglin]]
| 2 episodes 
|-
| ''[[The Good Fight]]''
| Deidre Quinn
| Episode: "Day 492"
|-
| 2018–19
| ''[[Queen America]]''
| Regina
| 3 episodes 
|-
| 2019–20
| ''[[The Politician (TV series)|The Politician]]''
| Dede Standish
| 8 episodes 
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Manhunt (2017 TV series)|Manhunt: Deadly Games]]''
| Bobi Jewell
| 7 episodes
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Impeachment: American Crime Story]]''
| [[Susan Carpenter-McMillan]]
| 5 episodes 
|-
| 2022
| ''[[American Horror Stories]]''
| Virginia Mallow
| Episode: "Facelift"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2022–23
| ''[[Shining Vale]]''
| Joan
| 6 episodes 
|-
| ''[[Julia (2022 TV series)|Julia]]''
| [[Blanche Knopf]]
| 9 episodes 
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Poker Face (TV series)|Poker Face]]''
| Irene Smothers
| Episode: "[[Time of the Monkey]]"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2024
| ''[[Kite Man: Hell Yeah!]]''
| Helen Villigan
| Voice; 6 episodes<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=September 14, 2023 |title='Harley Quinn' Spin-Off 'Kite Man: Hell Yeah!' Ready to Soar with New Teaser |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/09/harley-quinn-spin-off-kite-man-hell-yeah-ready-to-soar-with-new-teaser/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=www.animationmagazine.net}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Before (TV series)|Before]]''
| Lynn
| Miniseries
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2025
| ''[[Star Wars: Visions]]''
| Gleenu
| Voice; episode: "The Smuggler"
|-
| ''[[All's Fair (2025 TV series)|All's Fair]]''
| Sheila Baskin
| 2 episodes
|}

=== Theatre===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1975
| ''[[A Doll's House]]''
| Helene
| [[Vivian Beaumont Theater]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1976
| ''[[Measure for Measure]]''
| Francisca
|[[Delacorte Theater]]
|-
| ''[[Herzl (play)|Herzl]]''
| Julie Herzl
|[[Palace Theatre (New York City)|Palace Theatre]]
|-
| 1999–2000
| ''[[Wit (play)|Wit]]''
| Vivian Bearing
|[[Union Square Theatre]]
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Hedda Gabler]]''
| Hedda Gabler
|[[Shakespeare Theatre Company]]
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Sorrows and Rejoicings]]''
|Allison Olivier
|[[Second Stage Theatre]]
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Colder Than Here]]''
| Myra
|[[Lucille Lortel Theatre]]
|-
| 2010–11
| ''[[Lombardi (play)|Lombardi]]''
| Marie Lombardi
|[[Circle in the Square Theatre]]
|-
| 2011–12
| ''[[Other Desert Cities]]''
| Silda Grauman
|[[Booth Theatre]]
|-
| 2013
| ''[[The Assembled Parties]]''
| Faye
|[[Samuel J. Friedman Theatre]]
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Thérèse Raquin]]''
|[[Madame Raquin]]
|[[Roundabout Theater at Studio 54]]
|-
| 2016
| ''All The Ways To Say I Love You''
|Faye
|[[MCC Theater]]
|-
| 2017
| ''God Looked Away''
|Estelle
|[[Pasadena Playhouse]]
|}

==Awards and nominations==

=== Film and television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Work
! Result
|-
| align="center"| 1979
| [[Soapy Awards|Soapy Award]]
|[[Soapy Awards#Best Actress|Outstanding Actress]]
| rowspan="4" | ''[[One Life to Live]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 1980
| [[7th Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Award]]
| [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Soapy Award
| Outstanding Actress
| {{won}}
|-
| align="center"| 1981
| [[8th Daytime Emmy Awards|Daytime Emmy Award]]
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
| {{won}}
|-
| align="center"| 1998
| [[GLAAD Media Award]]
| colspan="2" | Vision Award
| {{won|Honouree}}
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center"| 2007
| [[59th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]]
| rowspan="4" | ''[[Ugly Betty]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Prism Awards|Prism Award]]
| Best Performance in a Comedy Series
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Gold Derby|Gold Derby Awards]]
| Comedy Guest Actress
| {{nom}}
|-
|Ensemble of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TV Land Award]]
| Favorite Working Mom
|''[[Who's the Boss?]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 2008
| [[Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Award]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series]]
| ''Ugly Betty''
| {{nom}}
|-
| TV Land Award
| Mad Ad Man (or Woman) of the Year
| ''Who's the Boss?''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center"| 2015
| [[5th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Award]]
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series|Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]] 
| rowspan="6" |''[[Transparent (TV series)|Transparent]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 2016
| [[73rd Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[68th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild Award]]
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[6th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Award]]
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
| {{nom}}
|-
|Gold Derby Awards
|Comedy Supporting Actress
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Gotham Independent Film Awards 2016|Gotham Award]]
| colspan="2" |Made in New York Award
| {{won|Honouree}}
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 2017
| [[69th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]]
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
| rowspan="2" |''Transparent''
| {{nom}}
|-
|Gold Derby Awards
|Comedy Supporting Actress
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"  align="center"| 2018
| [[70th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie]]
| rowspan="4" | ''[[The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |Gold Derby Awards
|Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actress
| {{won}}
|-
|Ensemble of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 2019
| [[9th Critics' Choice Television Awards|Critics' Choice Television Award]]
| [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries|Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Provincetown International Film Festival]]
| colspan="2" | Excellence in Acting Award
| {{won|Honouree}}
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 2020
|[[Women's Image Network Awards]]
|Outstanding Actress Made for Television Movie / Mini-Series
|''Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story''
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[31st GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Award]]
| colspan="2" |[[GLAAD Excellence in Media Award|Excellence in Media Award]]
| {{won|Honouree}}
|-
| align="center" | 2023
| [[75th Primetime Emmy Awards|Primetime Emmy Award]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]]
|''[[Poker Face (TV series)|Poker Face]]'' {{small|(for "[[Time of the Monkey]]")}}
| {{won}}
|-
|}

=== Theatre ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Work
! Result
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center"| 2011
| [[65th Tony Awards|Tony Award]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play|Best Featured Actress in a Play]]
| rowspan="3" | ''[[Lombardi (play)|Lombardi]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award]]
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Outer Critics Circle Award]]
|Outstanding Actress in a Play
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center"| 2012
| [[66th Tony Awards|Tony Award]]
| Best Featured Actress in a Play
| rowspan="3" | ''[[Other Desert Cities]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| Drama Desk Award
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
| {{won}}
|-
|Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center"| 2013
| [[67th Tony Awards|Tony Award]]
| Best Featured Actress in a Play
| rowspan="3" | ''[[The Assembled Parties]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| Drama Desk Award
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
| {{won}}
|-
|Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 2016
| [[Drama League Award]]
| Distinguished Performance
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Thérèse Raquin]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outer Critics Circle Award
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
| {{win}}
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"| 2017
|Drama League Award
|Distinguished Performance
| rowspan="2" |''All The Ways To Say I Love You''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Solo Performance
|{{nom}}
|-
| align="center"| 2019
| [[73rd Tony Awards|Tony Award]]
| [[Isabelle Stevenson Award]]
| "Advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and the fight against HIV/AIDS."
| {{won|Honouree}}
|}

==References==

{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Judith Light}}
*{{Official website|http://judithlight.com/}}
*{{IMDb name|509937}}
*{{IBDB name|86778}}
*{{IOBDB name|3447}}
*{{Playbill person|judith-light-vault-0000088647}}
*{{EmmyTVLegends name|judith-light}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Judith Light
|list =
{{DramaDesk PlayFeaturedActress 2001–2025}}
{{Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress 1974–1983}}
{{EmmyAward ComedyGuestActress}}
{{Isabelle Stevenson Award}}
{{TonyAward PlayFeaturedActress 2001–2025}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Light, Judith}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Burlington County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Actresses from Trenton, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Actresses from Beverly Hills, California]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:GLAAD Media Awards winners]]
[[Category:American soap opera actresses]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winners]]
[[Category:American HIV/AIDS activists]]
[[Category:Jewish American actresses]]
[[Category:Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Doane Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Drama Desk Award winners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Burlington, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]
[[Category:American women human rights activists]]